Filing and indexing equipment



J. T. QUIGLEY FILING AND INDEXING EQUIPMENT Filed May 31, 1918 2Sheets-Shet 1 -.-J. T. QUIGLEY FILING AND INDEXING EQUIPMENT Filed May31 1918 2 sheetswsheet Imwenifar Jahm T Q Z yfl wigley 4 73 PatentedDec. 2, 1924.

UNITED STATES mans PATENT caries.

JOHN T. QUIGLEY, F BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS, ASSIGNOR- TO COSTMETERCOMPANY, OF BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS, A CORPORATION OF MASSACHUSETTS.

FILING AND INDEXING EQUIPMENT.

Application tiled May 81,1918. Serial No. 237,392.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, JOHN T. QUrcLEn-a citizen of the United States, anda resident of Boston, in the county of Suffolk and State ofMassachusetts, have invented an Improvement in Filing and IndexingEquipments, of which the following description, in connection with theaccompanying drawings, is a specification, like characters on thedrawings representing like parts.

This invention relates to indexes and files, and is more especiallyconcerned with an equipment of the'so-called loose-leaf, visible indextype in which the successive leaves or sheets overlie one another insuch manner that their margins present their index-hearing edgessubstantially in one plane, so that the number, name or subject-matterindex may be scanned quickly without handling each leaf. I

My invention will be best understood by reference to the followingdescription when taken in connection with the accompanying drawings ofone specific embodiment there of, while the scope will be more.particularly pointed out in the appended claims.

In the drawings, Fi 1 is a front elevation of an indexing and filingequipment embodying my invention; v

Fig. 2 is a side elevatidn of the same;

Fig. 3 is a sectional view on a much onlarged scale on line 33 of Fig. 1illustrating a sheet'-holder and the sheet-holder looking means in theirnormal positions;

Fig. 4 is a sectional view similar to Fig. 3,

' but showing the sheet-holder locking means brought forward preparatoryto withdrawunlocked and one end of the sheet-holder ing same from itsplace; V

Fig. 5 is a sectional view on a much en-' larged scale on line 5--5 ofFig.- 1;

Fig. 6 is a sectional view on line 6-45 of Fig. 1, showing some oftheleaves in an upstanding position and others in a depending position, andillustrating the rocking action of the sheet-holders;

Fig. 7 is a. cross-sectional view of one of the sheet-holders e ui pedwith a two-leaf sheet having a fol e margin'to lock the same in place inthe sheet-holder;

Fig. 8 is a similar sectional view, showing a single-leaf sheet whosemargin is folded several times upon itself to form. a plurality ofthicknesses within the sheet-holder;

Fig. 9 is a sectional view similar to Figs. 7 and 8, butoshowing' asingle-leaf sheet locked in the sheet-holder by having its margin foldedonce upon itself; and Fig. 10 is a sectional view on line 10-10 ofFig. 1. I

Referring to the drawings and to the embodiment of my invention which Ihave selected for illustration, I havethere shown an indexing and'filin-g equi ment compris- 16 and 17 on a plate 18 which constitutes amounting for the equipment.

As best shown in Fig. 3, the flanges 16 and 17 normally overlie the endsof the sheet-carriers or holders 13. As a means for normally lockin thelatter against endwise movement, I gave herein provided a lockin bar 19which may consist of a flat metallic strip, shown in cross-section inFig. 3 and having its terminal portions reduced as best shown in Fi 1 toform shafts 20 mounted in suitable earings 21, the latter, in thepresent example, being in the form of blocks inserted in the upper andlower ends of the channel 15 and secured in place by rivets 22, bestshown in Fig. 1, extending through the flange 17 and plate 18.

Vhen the locking bar 19 is in its normal position illustrated in Fig.-3, the sheet-car riers and holders 13 are permitted to move endwise toaslight extent necessary to give them proper clearance, but are lockedagainst removal from the guides 16 and 17, since the amount of normalend play isinsufiicient to ermit the escape of the sheetcarriers orivoted locking bar 19 is swung from its ocking position, shown in Fi 3,to the unlocked position, shown in, present example through an arc ofapproximately ninety degrees) the bar is presented flatwise instead ofedgewise to the ends of the sheet-carriers or holders, and hence any oneor more of the latter may be moved lengthwise to a greater extent intothe channel 15, thus freeing them from the'channel olders. When,however, the 1 1g. 4, (in the' 14, whereupon their ends may be swung in.an outward direction as illustrated in Fig.

rename Whose axes they may be turned, thus carrying their attachedleaves. Their cylindrical 4. Thus, it is evident that the.sheet-carform, moreover, maintains them and their riers or holders arenormally positively leaves uniformly spaced and held. in proper lockedin place with relation to the guides, and are thus 'prevented from beingaccidentally removed while still permitting them to be unlocked andwithdrawn instantly when desired.

Preferably suitable means are provided normally to retain the lockingbar 19 in its carrier-locking position and to restore said bar to suchposition after having been displaced therefrom. Such means may takevarious forms, but I prefer to provide one or more suitable springs 23appropriately connected to the locking bar 19 as by providingthe latterwith arms 24, one of which is clearly shown in Fig. 5, to which one endof the spring is attached, the other end being secured to a suitablefixed point which in the present example is in the form of a rivet 25.Herein the upper and lower margins of'the plate 18 are bent to form inwardly turned flanges 26, best shown in Fig. 1, whichform upper andlower stops limiting the upward and downward movecourse,

.nent of the sheetcarriers or holders 13 with their attached jsheets. Ifdesired, these flanges may form convenient chambers 27, into which thesprings 23 may extend, and the rivets 25 to which the springs'areattached may extend through the flanges 26 and the back plate 18.

From an inspection of Fig. 5 compared with Fig. 3, it will be evidentthat each of the springs 23 exerts a pull on its arm 24: in the properdirection normally to maintain the locklng bar 19 in the position shownin Fig. 3, thereby to prevent undue lengthwise -displacement of thesheet-carriers or holders 13. When, however, the locking bar is turnedfrom the osition shown in Fig. 3 to that shown in Fig. 4 in 0 positionto the tension of the spring, the sheet carrier or holder is unlockedand can be removed -as already described. As a convenient means foroperating the locking bar to unlock the sheet carriers or holders, lhave herein provided said bar with a thumb or finger piece 28, which inthe present example is suitably secured to the bar, as by rivets 29, andprojects therefrom through a suitable opening 30 in the guide 12, asbest shown in Fi s. 1 and 2. This opening is, of

maths great enough in extent, as shown in Figs. 3 and 4:, to permit thethumb or finger iece 28 to be swung through an angular distancesuficient to carry the looking bar 19 from its looking to its lockedposition.

The sheet-carriers or holders 13, as already stated, are preferably inthe form of cylindrical tubes. ince they are cylindrical, their endsconstitute trunnions about position lengthwise of their guides 11 and12. Since this is'so, the sheets and their carriers 0 holders may beturned freely about the axes of'the latter, thus rendering both faces ofthe sheets readil accessible for the purpose of inspection an making ofrecords, as will be evident from an inspection of Fig. 6,. wherein someof the sheets are shown in upstanding position and others depending.

The sheets may take various formsand may be otherwise appropriatelysecured to their respective carriers or holders. In the present example,the latter are provided with narrow, longitudinal, sheet-receiving slots31 leading into longitudinal sheet-receiving chambers 32.. In the formillustrated in Fig. 6, T have provided sheets 33, each of which isfolded upon itself to form a double-leaf sheet, whose fold extendsthrough the slot 31 into the chamber 32, and in the fold is a lockingrod 34, preferably somewhat larger in cross-section than the width ofthe slot 31. By first introducing the locking rod into the fold of thesheet, and then sliding the latter lengthwise into the slot, even thethinnest sheet can be locked into its carrier or holder in a positiveand perfectly secure manner, so that it cannot be removed therefromexcept by first removing the carrier or holder from its place in theguides. When, however, the sheet-carrier or holder is removed from itsguides, the sheet may be separated therefrom by relatively moving thesheet and sheet-carrier or holder in opposite directions lengthwise ofthe latter, with a sliding motion. The rod 34 may then be removed fromthe fold, if desired. It is also evident that the sheet might be removedfrom the sheetcarriers or holders by first withdrawing the rod 34lengthwise from the fold and "then pulling the latter in an outwarddirection from the slot. K

In Fig. 7, ll have shown a sheet 35 similar to the sheet 33, and havinga folded marginal portion 36 interlocked with the sheet carrier orholder 13, but in this case. the rod is omitted and the locking ofthe'sheet is accomplished by making a second fold so disposed that thewidth of the folded marginal portion is at least as great as theinternal diameter of the chamber 32'. Preferably the width of the slot31 is only slightly greater than the combined thickness of both leavesof the sheet 33, so that the latter is effectually locked in place inthe carrier or holder. In Fig. 8, l have shown a single sheet 37, havinga marginal portion 38 which is folded upon itself several times to givethe same in- '-crea sed stability and durability in the case llll ofthin paper. In Fig. 9, I have shown a single sheet 3.) of considerablethickness having a folded margin 40 similar to the margin 36 in Fig. 7,and a ting in like manner to retain the sheet in its carrier or holder.

Any or all of these forms of leaves with their locking devices may beemployed in a single equipment, thus adapting the latter to light orheavy Weight cards or sheets, both kinds being used Witlrequal facilityand being susceptible of arrangement and re-arrangemeat from time totime. and detachment and re-attachment to any of the sheet-carriers orholders.

Preferably the length of the plate 18 is such as to receive and hold adefinite number of sheet carriers or holders with their attached sheets,the latter overlying one another, and the lower edge of the lowermostleaf preferably terminating adjacent the lower edge of the holder. Tothis end,

the carrier or holder of the lowermost sheet may be spaced from thelower edge of the plate in any suitable manner, as, for example, by theuse of a suflicient number of empty sheet-carriers and holders fillingthe space, or by the use of a single spacing element 41, the latterbeing supported by the lower flange 26 of the plate 18. This spacingelement, like the sheet carriers or holders, may be removed and replacedat will by, and is normally locked in place by the locking bar 19.

While I have herein shown and described one form or embodiment of myinvention for illustrative purposes, and have disclosed and discussed indetail the construction and arrangement incidental to one specificapplication thereof, it is to be understood that the invention islimited neither to the mere details or relative arrangement of parts,nor to its specific embodiment herein shown, but

that extensive deviations from the illustrated.

form or embodiment of'the invention may be made without departing fromthe principles thereof.

Having thus'described one embodiment of my invention. what I claim anddesire by Letters Patent to secure is:

1. A filing or indexing equipment comprising, in combination, a pair ofsheet holder supports, a plurality of sheet-holders supported atopposite ends by said supports but detachable therefrom upon endwise'movement, locking and unlocking means normally to lock saidsheet-holders in said sheetholder supports against movement transverselyof said supports, sheets held by said sheet-holders respectively, andmeans to lo k said sheets against detachment from said sheet-holders.

2. A filing or indexing equipment comprising, in combination. a pair ofsheet holder supports, a plurality of sheet-holders terminating atopposite ends in said supports wise movement, locking and unlockingmeans normally to lock said sheet-holders in said sheet-holder supportsagainst movement transversely of said supports, sheets -held by saidsheet-holders, respectively, and having-opposite edges interposedbetween said supports, and means to lock said sheets in saidsheet-holders.

4. A filing or indexing equipment. comprising, in combination, a air ofsheetholder supports, a plurality 0 sheet-holders supported at oppositeends by said supports but detachable therefrom upon endwise movement,locking and unlocking means normally to lock said sheet-holders in saidsheet-holder supports 1 against movement transversely of said supports.sheets held by said sheet-holders, respectively, and slidable lengthwiseof and into cooperative relationship with said sheet-holders, and meansto lock said sheets against detachment from said sheet-holders.

5. A filing or indexing equipment comprising, in combination. a pair ofsheetholder supports, a plurality of sheet-holders supported at oppositeends by said supports but detachable therefrom upon endwise movement,locking and unlocking means normally to lock said sheet-holders in saidsheetholder supports against movement transverselv of said supports,sheets held by said sheetolders. respectively, means to lock said sheetsagainst detachment from said sheetholders but allowing the sheets to bemoved lengthwise out of engagement with thesheet-holders when the latterare disengaged from their supports;

6. A filing 0r indexing equipment comprising, in, combination, a pair ofparallel guideways, a plurality of sheet-holders extending transverselyand mounted to slide longitudinally of said guideways but ,de-

tachable therefrom upon endwise movement, locking and unlocking meansnormally to lock said sheet-holders'against removal from said guideways,by movement transversely of said guideways. sheets held by. saidsheetholders, respectively, and means to locksaid sheets againstdetachment from said sheet holders.

7. A filing or indexing equipment comprising, in combination, a pair ofparallel till nally of said track but detachable therefromby endwisemovement transversely of the track, locking and unlocking means normallyto lock said sheet-carriers against detachment from said track bymovement transversely of said track, a plurality of sheets carried bysaid sheet-carriers. and means to lock said sheets against detachmentfrom said sheet-carriers.

9. A filing or indexing equipment 00111- prising, in combination, atrack, a plurality of sheet-carriers mounted to move longitudinally ofsaid track but detachable therefrom by endwise movement transversely ofthe track, locking and unlocking means normally to lock saidsheet-carriers against detachment from said track by movementtransversely of said track, a plurality of sheets carried by said sheetcarriers, means to lock said sheets against detachment from saidsheet-carriers by movement oil said sheets longitudinally of said track,said means and said carriers being adapted to allow the Sheetshjto bedetached from the carriers by transverse movement, but only when thecarriers are detached from the track;

10. A filing equipment comprising, in combination, a seriesofsheet-carriers and a support therefor presenting means overlying theends. of said sheet-carriers, two abutments for the ends of saidsheet-carriers normally to prevent their removal by endwise movement andhaving provision for movement of one abutment relatively to the other topermit detachment of said sheet-carriers by endwise movement, and meansfor causing said movable abutment normally to lock said sheet-carrierspositively against removal by endwise movement.

11. A filing or indexing equipment comprising, in combination, a pair ofchanneled guides, a plurality of sheet-carriers having their oppositeends terminatin in the chem nels of said guides, respectirey, and sheetcarrier looking and unlocking means normallv locking said sheet-carriersagainst substantial movement tran s y of a1 guides adapted t be tn ch tnretains mit said sheet-carriers to be moved endwi'se and detached fromsaid guides.

12. In a filing or indexing equipment, the combination of a supportprovided with a pair of flanges extending towards each other and formingopposed sheet-holder receiving channels, a plurality of sheet-holdersgreater in length than the space between said flanges and having theiropposite ends normally covered by said "flanges, and sheet holderlocking and unlocking means normally locking said sheet holders againstendwise movement and adapted to unlock said sheet-holders to permit thelatter to be moved endwise, thereby to withdraw their ends from beneathone of said flanges.

1B. A filing or indexing equipment comprising, .in combination,sheet-holder supporting means, sheet-holders supported thereby, sheetsheld by said sheet-holders, and sheet-holder positive lockin meansadapted to engage said sheet-hol ers endwise.

it. A filing equipment comprising, in

- combination, sheet-holder supporting means,

sheet-holders supported thereby, sheets held by said sheet-holders,-andsheet-holder positive locking means including a single locking elementadapted to present an obstruction to removal of said sheet-holders byendwise movement and mounted to move laterally to remove suchobstruction to permit removal of said sheet holders by lenghwisemovement, and means normally to re= tain said element in a position inwhich it is immovable by endwise thrust of said sheet-holdersthereagainst and thereby posi tively locks said sheet-holders againstremoval by endwise movement.

15. A filing or indexing equipment comprising, in combition,sheet-holder supporting means, sheet-holders supported thereby sheetsheld by said sheet-holders, and sheet-holder locking means including apivoted locking-bar.

' 16. A filing or indexing equipment comprising, in combination,sheet-holder supporting means, sheet-holders supported thereby, sheetsheld by said sheet-holders, and sheet-holder locking means including apivoted locking-bar extending along said sheet-holders 17. A filing orindexing equipment comprising, in combination, sheet-holder supportingmeans, sheet'holders supported there" by, sheets held by saidsheetholders, and sheet-holder positive locking means including alocking element limiting movement of said sheet-holders longitudinall ofthe lat ter, and yielding means nor-ma ly retaining said element in itssheet-holder locking position.

18, A or eomhin indexing equipment coma on, sheet-holder sup-- Milllllll) thereby, sheets held by said sheet-holders,

and sheet-holder positive locking means norinally presenting a limitinstop to limit movement of said sheet-ho ders longitudicovered by saidflanges, and sheet-holder positive locking and unlocking means normallypositively locking said sheet-holders against end'wise movement andadapted to unlock said sheet-holders to permit the latter to be movedendwise, thereby to with- I draw their ends from beneath one of saidflanges, said locking and unlocking means including a locking-barextending lengthwise of and adjacent the other flange.

20. In a filing or indexing equipment, the combination of a supportprovided with a pair of flanges extending towards each other and formingopposed sheet-holder receiving channels, a plurality of sheet-holdersgreater in length than the space between said flanges and having theiropposite ends normally covered by said flanges, and sheet-holder lockinand unlocking means normally looking said sheet-holders a ainst endwisemovement and adapted to unlock said sheet-holders to permit the latterto be moved endwise, thereby to withdraw their ends from beneath one ofsaid flan es, said locln'ng and unlocking means inclu ing a locking-barextending lengthwise of and adjacent the other flange and pivoted toswing toward and from said sheet-holders.

21. In a filing or indexing equipment, the combination of a supportprovided with a pair of flanges extending towards each other andforming. opposed sheet-holder receiving channels, a plurality ofsheet-holders greater in length than the space between said flan es andhaving: their opposite ends normfily covered by said flanges, andsheet-holder locking and unlocking means normally looking saidsheet-holders against endwisem'ovement and adapted to unlock saidsheet-holders to permit the latter to be moved endwise, thereby towithdraw their ends from be neath one of said flan es, said locking andunlockin means inclu ing a locking-bar extendin engthwise of andadjacent the other flange and pivoted to swing toward and from saidsheet-holders, and yielding means .nrging said bar toward said slieetholders.

22. A filin device comprising, in combination, a ho ow sheet-holder, asheet held thereby, and means positively locking said sheet to saidsheet-holder, said means comprising a locking element within saidsheetholder and mounted to move relatively to said sheet andsheet-holder, and a mounting having provision normally to preventunlockin of said sheet from said sheet-holder.

23. filing device comprising, in combination, a hollow sheet-holder, asheet held thereby, and means positively locking said sheet to saidsheet-holder, said means comprising a locking element within saidsheetholder and mounted to move longitudinally of the adjacent edge ofsaid sheet and sheet holder, and a mounting having provision normally tolimit such longitudinal movement.

24. A filing device comprising, in combination, a sheet, andsheet-holding means comprising two parts relatively movablelongitudinally ofthe adjacent margin of said sheet, and a mountinghaving provision normally to limit such longitudinal movement.

25. A filing device comprising, in 'combi nation, a sheet, andsheet-holding means comprising two parts movable relatively to eachother and to said sheet longitudinally. of the adjacent margin of thelatter, and a mounting having-provision normally to limit suchlongitudinal movement.

26. A filing device comprising, in combination, a sheetand sheet-holdingmeans comprising two parts relatively movable longitudinally of theadjacent margin of said sheet, one of said parts extending through saidsheet, and amounting having provision normally to limit suchlongitudinal move, ment.

27. A {filing device comprising, in combination, a sheet andsheet-holding meanscomprising two parts relatively movable lonitudinally of the adjacent margin of sai sheet, one of said partsextending through a fold of said sheet, and a mounting having provisionnormally to limit such longitudinal movement. 7

28. A filing device comprising, in combination, a hollow sheet-holder, asheet hav ing a fold extending into said sheet-holder, and sheet-lockingmeans in the fold of said sheet, and a mountin having provision normallyto limit such ongitudinal movement.

'29. A filing device comprising, in combination, a tubular sheet-holderprovidedv with a longitudinal slot, a sheet having a fold extendinthrough said slot into the interior of sai ing means in the fold of saidsheet, and a mounting having provision normally to limit suchlongitudinal movement.

I 30. A filing device com rising, in combination, a tubular sheetolderrovided with a lon 'tudinal slot, a sheet 'aving a fold extendlngthrough said slot into the insheet-holder, and sheet-lockterioi of saidsheet-holder, and a sheet-locking rod in the Fold of said sheet, and amounting having provision normally to limit such longitudinal movement.

31. A filing equipment comprising, in combination, a track, a series ofsheet-carriers received by said track, means preventing movement of saidsheet-carriers longitudinally of said track, positive locking meansnormally positively locking said sheet-car- 10 riers against removaltransversely of said track and having provision to unlock saidsheet-carriers to permit their removal from said track by movementtransversely of the latter. 115

In testimony whereof, I have signed my name to this specification.

JOHN T. QUIGLEY.

